Adventures in RC Drifting

Square Drift Conversion SP - Type SS

2010-09-10T13:11:00.004-04:00

Square has a limited edition kit of its latest drift conversion for the TA05 on the way. Not only does it include silver graphite chassis plates and a silver anodized motor mount, it also includes silver graphite damper stays, silver anodized hubs and bulkheads, a solid axle, and countersteer pulleys. Looks pretty sharp if you ask me:

Source: Square

All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show 2010 - Notable Tamiya Releases

2010-09-08T15:16:00.012-04:00

Taking place at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba next month is the 50th All Japan Hobby Show. Tamiya will be unveiling an abundance of new products, including these gems:

1/10RC TA05 Ver.II R Chassis (limited):
1/10RC TRF417 Chassis:

1/10RC M06 PRO Chassis:

1/10RC Fairlady 240Z (TT-01D Chassis TYPE-E) Drift Spec
1/10RC ENDLESS Z34 Fairlady Z (TT-01D Chassis TYPE-E) Drift Spec
1/10RC RAYBRIG HSV-010 (TA05 ver.II Chassis)
1/10RC Euro Civic Type R (FF-03)
OP Tamiya Brushless Motor 01 12T (Sensored)
OP Tamiya Brushless Motor 01 14T (Sensored)
OP Tamiya Brushless Motor 01 16T (Sensored)
OP Tamiya Brushless Motor 01 18T (Sensored)
OP Tamiya Brushless ESC 01 (Sensored)

Source: Tamiya Inc.

RC Drifting in North Carolina

2010-08-28T19:05:00.004-04:00

Last week I took a trip to North Carolina to visit a good friend of mine. While I was there we made sure to get in a full night of drifting at his friend's warehouse:

Tech Racing Spool for TB-03

2010-06-17T00:01:00.008-04:00

Tech Racing has manufactured a new spool for the Tamiya TB-03 that will be available by the end of the month. The spool pictured above is a prototype, as the final unit will be made from light blue anodized aluminum. Product number 3TB080; MSRP 29 USD.

Source: Tech Racing

Tamiya TA05-VDF

2010-06-16T00:59:00.016-04:00

Tamiya USA recently uploaded some new pictures of their high end drift machine. Is it July yet?!

From Tamiya USA:

This machine adopts a front mid-ship motor layout (motor within wheelbase) for optimum balance which is essential to drift driving. The upper frame features vertically mounted carbon plates which improve chassis rigidity while also providing enough flexibility during drifting. The parallel geometry steering system provides this machine with excellent control of counter steering.The especially designed battery holder is adjustable and is compatible with Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, LIPO & LF batteries. Glass tape can also be used to secure the battery.

Features TA05 bulkheads, short reversible suspension arms, TRF416 uprights. 37Tfront and rear pulleys and 18T center pulley are driven by new-length drive belts. Belt tensioner is also equipped.

Adjustable battery holder enables attachment of Tamiya Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, LIPO and LF battery packs (battery packs can also be secured with glass tape). R/C units are placed centrally on the chassis for optimized balance.

A wide variety of TA-05 option parts can be equipped on this drift chassis.

The TA05-VDF is due out this July with an estimated street price of 400 USD.

Tamiya FF-03 PRO

2010-06-12T00:42:00.002-04:00

It's been about ten years since Tamiya released the FF-02, and this summer they'll be releasing their long awaited update: the FF-03. Here's a closer look at their high end version, the FF-03 PRO.

Both the standard FF-03 and Pro utilize a narrow chassis with the battery running vertically down the center of the chassis, and the motor is mounted in front of the axles which helps prevent understeer. An inboard front suspension is standard equipment, and, depending on which rear block you install, you have three different wheelbases to choose from: 233, 245, and 257 mm.

The PRO kit, however, includes TRF dampers, a blue aluminum motor mount, an aluminum servo horn and high torque servo saver, and blue aluminum turnbuckles.

The FF-03 PRO kit is scheduled to ship at the end of the month, and the standard FF-03 will be shipping in early July, with street prices of around $220 and $195 respectively.

Here Comes a New Challenger!

2010-06-07T00:21:00.008-04:00

Yokomo must have surprised quite a few people when they posted this teaser pic of a new drift chassis on their website last weekend. Following Tamiya's lead, Yokomo is jumping on the "front midship motor, belt driven" bandwagon. Codenamed the DRB, this new chassis is due out in August.

Source: Team Yokomo

Tamiya at Shizuoka Hobby Show 2010

2010-05-15T10:31:00.003-04:00

TA05-VDF DRIFT CHASSIS KIT:
FF-03 PRO CHASSIS KIT:
MOTUL NISMO GT-R Tokachi 24hours Race:
CASTROL Honda CIVIC VTi:
DATSUN 240Z RALLY:
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4 SUPER TROFEO:
Source: Tamiya Inc.

New Tamiya Drift Chassis!!

2010-04-07T20:30:00.008-04:00

All I can say is, it's about time! Tamiya will be releasing their own dedicated drift chassis this July. I'll post more details after my brain has time to let this news settle.

*Update - 4/10/10*
A front ball diff, rear solid axle, universal swing shafts, and TRF dampers are standard equipment. The steering will have parallel geometry that a countersteer setup will benefit from.

Two New Bodies from Yokomo

2010-02-09T18:01:00.004-05:00

Team Boss with Potenza S15:
Yuke's Cusco Lancer Evolution X:
Source: Team Yokomo

Upcoming Releases from Tamiya

2010-02-01T13:34:00.002-05:00

Lamboghini Gallardo LP560-4 Super Trofeo (TA05 ver.II Chassis):
Nissan GT-R (TT-01D Type-E Chassis) Drift Spec:
TB-03R Chassis Kit:
Source: Tamiya Inc.

Active Countersteer Unit for TT-01

2010-01-19T18:50:00.005-05:00

The Active Hobby Countersteer Unit for the TT-01 is now in stock at Race & Drift Japan. Click here for the direct link.

Yokomo M7 RE Amemiya w/ Toyo Tires D1-7

2010-01-12T11:54:00.004-05:00

Source: Team Yokomo

New Products from Yokomo

2010-01-04T22:41:00.014-05:00

Aluminum Wing Stay -- Silver [D-056] -- Black [D-057]:Compatible with Yokomo's standard plastic wings. Includes mounting hardware.

Drift Grease [D-060]:Heat resistant and high-pressure withstanding grease for use on universal shaft joints and gears.

Source: Team Yokomo

ABC Hobby Lexus LS460 190mm Body

2009-12-30T01:09:00.001-05:00

Source: ABC Hobby

Yokomo WONDER C35 LAUREL Club-S

2009-12-10T11:54:00.001-05:00

Source: Team Yokomo

Coming Soon from Tamiya

2009-11-26T14:15:00.006-05:00

TA05 Version II Chassis Kit:Tamiya will be releasing the TA05 Version II chassis kit with an Upgrade Pack. The Upgrade Pack has many of the popular hop-up parts to improve the performance of the chassis:#1 Item 42102 TRF Special Damper (Hard Black Coating) 4pcs.

#2 Item 53833 TA05 Front One-Way Unit
#3 Item 53992 TA05-IFS Aluminum Rocker Nut
#4 Item 53993 TA05-IFS Aluminum Rocker Arm Set
#5 Item 54023 DB01 Front One-Way Pulley (37T)
#6 Item 54121 Aluminum Horn For Hi-Torque Servo Saver
#7 Item 51000 Hi-Torque Servo Saver (Black)
#8 Item 51023 Medium-Narrow Racing Radial Tires
#9 Item 53471 Medium-Narrow 5-Spoke Wheels (Offset 0)

BMW M3 E30 Sport Evo - TT01D Type E:

Source: Tamiya USA

Tech Racing 1/10 Drift Chassis

2009-11-20T22:56:00.007-05:00

Tech Racing has a new drift chassis scheduled for release on December 10th. It features a carbon fiber main chassis with 2mm upper deck, isometric drive belts, aluminum bulkheads, front one-way and rear ball diff, and a battery holder compatible with NiMH and LiPo stick packs:

Source: Tech Racing

Yokomo D-MAX in Action

2009-11-13T00:47:00.003-05:00

This kit just became more interesting to me:

Source: Team Yokomo

Active Hobby TT-01 Countersteer Kit

2009-11-08T10:51:00.004-05:00

The new countersteer kit from Active, which will include an aluminum solid axle and 36t/20t gears, is due out in December for around 30 USD. These gears will give your TT-01 a countersteer ratio of 1.44:

Source: Active Hobby

Yokomo D-MAX Diversion ADVAN ONE-VIA

2009-10-21T11:56:00.003-04:00

Source: Team Yokomo

ENKEI Racing GTC 01 Wheels from Yokomo

2009-10-21T11:54:00.000-04:00

ENKEI Racing GTC 01s are currently on the M7 Re Amemiya RX-7. The body is already available for the Ichiroku M, so it's likely that Yokomo will produce a 1/10 scale version in the near future: Source: Team Yokomo

Yokomo 12 LED Assembled Light Buckets

2009-10-20T13:38:00.007-04:00

SunRISE/Mercury AE86 LEVIN [SD-SR86LS]:
DRoo-P AE86 [SD-DR86LS]:
B324R SKYLINE [SD-B324LS]:
Flash Unit [SD-FULS]:
Source: Team Yokomo

Rays Volk Racing GTF Wheels from Yokomo

2009-10-14T12:50:00.001-04:00

Volk Racing GTFs are currently on T&E's Vertice Design D1 BMW TE382. It's safe to assume Yokomo is already working on the body as well: Source: Team Yokomo

Don't Call It a Comeback

2009-10-12T10:34:00.003-04:00

All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show 2009 - Pictures

2009-10-10T22:07:00.010-04:00

ABC Hobby:

Aoshima:

Tamiya:

Yokomo:

Sources: Tamiya Inc., Speed Way Pal Blog

Plamodel Hobby Show - New Tamiya Images

2009-10-07T23:49:00.009-04:00

Corolla Axio apr GT:
BMW M3 GT2 2009:
TRF416X Chassis Kit:
TT01R Type-E Chassis Kit:
Source: Tamiya USA

TA05 Countersteer Practice Vol. 3

2009-10-06T23:56:00.000-04:00

Here's some footage of my car with the new pulley installed:

The car handles much more aggressively now, and I can apply more countersteer angle at higher speeds. Also, at lower speeds the turning radius while countersteering is much tighter than it was before. I'll try to get some more footage uploaded later this week.

Active Countersteer Kit Ver. 2 for TA05

2009-09-28T20:11:00.019-04:00

This weekend I received the new Active Hobby TA05 countersteer kit:
Active did a great job machining the pulley. It slides easily onto the spur gear holder, and there isn't a hint of play once it's in place:
I opted not to use the belt included with the kit and used a spare TA05 IFS-R belt (#54045) instead, which fits perfectly without any modifications like I had hoped. This is great news because IFS-R belts are readily available on eBay and Tamiya USA's e-store:
My driving impressions should be posted within the next couple of days. Unfortunately, because of bad weather and a busy weekend, I haven't been able to spend more than ten minutes trying it out.

Square TA05 Drift Conversion SP - Update #2

2009-09-21T07:12:00.002-04:00

The first prototype has been completed:

Source: Square RC

Square TA05 Drift Conversion SP - Update

2009-09-19T12:39:00.003-04:00

The first prototype parts have been cut and machined:

Source: Square RC

Hot Bodies TC-D

2009-09-11T17:15:00.004-04:00

Hot Bodies has officially announced their latest drift chassis, the TC-D. It's scheduled to be released this November, and has a list price of 57600 JPY:

Major Characteristics:

Overall length: 365mm
Width: 190mm
Wheelbase: 258 ~ 262mm
Weight: 1480g
Front midship motor layout
Front ball diff, rear rigid diff
Carbon double deck chassis
Adjustable battery position
Adjustable threaded shocks

Source: HPI Japan

Square TA05 Drift Conversion SP

2009-09-10T13:43:00.004-04:00

Square is working on a new drift conversion for the TA05. Details on the new kit are scarce, but here are two CAD images of the prototype:

Source: Square RC

Square Countersteer Kit for Tamiya TA05

2009-08-26T14:42:00.008-04:00

Square RC is getting into the countersteer game with a new kit for the TA05 due out September 14th. The kit will include:

Center Pulleys: 18t, 20t, 22t
Diff Pulleys: 30t, 40t
Drive Belts: 111t, 115t

Source: Square RC

Yokomo Drift Package - GOODYEAR Racing ZERO CROWN

2009-08-25T08:43:00.007-04:00

Scheduled to be released at the end of the month is a new Drift Package kit from Yokomo which will include a Toyota Zero Crown body:

Source: Team Yokomo

TA05 Countersteer Practice Vol. 2

2009-08-11T15:18:00.008-04:00

Filmed by my friend Patrick:

Drift Gettogether

2009-08-10T18:50:00.006-04:00

Yesterday afternoon a few friends and I got together for a small drift session. Here are some of the pictures I took throughout the day:

Street Jam Shadow Wheels

2009-08-07T12:02:00.004-04:00

Available for import on August 18th in 3mm, 6mm, and 10mm offsets.

Source: Street Jam

Active TA05 Countersteer Kit Version 1.5 & 2

2009-08-03T16:59:00.010-04:00

After their first countersteer kit received some negative feedback from the online drift communities, Active Hobby went back to the drawing board and is releasing two updated versions.

Version 1.5 includes a 25t center pulley, rear belt for a stock 36t pulley, and center pulley mounts:
Version 2 includes a 25t center pulley, rear belt for a 32t pulley (Active Hobby or TA04), and center pulley mounts:
Source: Active Hobby

Tamiya TEU-104BK

2009-07-27T01:29:00.004-04:00

Tamiya's new TEU-104BK ESC, available on August 29th, will feature a Li-po cutoff and 23-turn motor limit:

The MSRP is listed at just over 50 USD, but the actual street price should be much lower than that.

Source: Tamiya Inc.

New Products from Yokomo

2009-07-26T01:33:00.009-04:00

Brushless Motors and ESCs:
Li-po/Li-fe Charger and Balancer:
Li-po Battery Packs:
Source: Team Yokomo

Speed Way Pal Slidemaster FM Wheels - Plated

2009-07-13T16:15:00.002-04:00

Available for import later this week in 7mm and 10mm offsets:

Source: Speed Way Pal

Street Jam Star Shark Wheels

2009-06-30T22:51:00.004-04:00

Street Jam is continuing their line of "high-profile tire" style wheels:

Available for import on July 15th in 3mm, 6mm, and 10mm offsets.

Source: Street Jam

Hot Bodies DCJ Drive Shaft Set #67699

2009-06-29T00:14:00.005-04:00

From Hot Bodies:

Maintain better corner speed while drastically reducing wheel chatter with the Hot Bodies DCJ drive shaft. The DCJ or (Double Cardan Joint) shaft breaks the single pivot point into two pivot points resulting in less drag and shallower shaft angles during sharp turning. Your car will be easier to drive and your lap times will show it!

They'll be available soon and are compatible with the entire line of Cyclone touring cars.

Source: Hot Bodies

TA05 Parallel Parking

2009-06-28T03:07:00.000-04:00

Tamiya TA05 Ver. II

2009-06-26T18:29:00.005-04:00

Now available in Japan and making its way over to the U.S. in the coming weeks, Tamiya recently released a couple of new pictures of their new TA05 Ver. II.

Suspension mounts:

Thanks to separate left and right suspension blocks, replacing the drive belts will now be an easier task.

Motor mount:

The new, narrower motor mount utilizes a cantilevered shaft which allows the battery to be mounted closer to the centerline of the chassis.

Source: Tamiya Inc.

Speed Way Pal A31 Cefiro: Official Pictures

2009-06-25T10:48:00.010-04:00

Due out early next month, Speed Way Pal's new A31 Cefiro body will include Type II aero mirrors, 15mm exhaust, decal sheet, and window masks all for around 40 USD:

Source: Speed Way Pal

Speed Way Pal A31 Cefiro: Another Picture

2009-06-21T11:43:00.001-04:00

Source: Speed Way Pal Blog

Ai Circuit in Kasai, Japan

2009-06-14T13:14:00.017-04:00

While browsing Yodo's Drift Blog last week, I noticed a picture of him standing on what appeared to be a 1/10th scale mountain pass. After doing some searching over the weekend, I learned that it was indeed a 1/10th scale mountain pass at Ai Circuit in Kasai, Hyogo, Japan. The track opened in April of this year and, next to the mountain pass, has a standard drift track as well. Enjoy the pictures, courtesy of RC-ART Blog.

Under Construction:

Completed:

Yokomo Drift Package - BLITZ Dunlop Skyline

2009-06-12T07:51:00.000-04:00

Scheduled to be released later this month is a new Drift Package kit from Yokomo which will include a clear body and decal sheet modeled after Ken Nomura's BLITZ Dunlop ER34 Skyline from the 2008 D1GP season:

Source: Team Yokomo

Two New Drift Packages from Yokomo

2009-06-11T00:19:00.001-04:00

Drift Package Plus SSGP Edition:

The Yokomo Drift Package Plus SSGP Edition is set up for their new Super Scale racing class which has been gaining popularity in Japan. The spools have been replaced with ball differentials (front and rear) and R03 HG Radial Type-D drift tires have replaced the Zero-One R tires. Click here for more info.

Drift Package Plus Deep Rim Edition:

Standard equipment on the Drift Package Plus Deep Rim Edition is Yokomo's short suspension set which allows for high offset wheels to be used on 190-195mm bodies. Click here for more info.

HPI Lexus IS F: More Pictures

2009-06-10T15:55:00.006-04:00

Andy H. from HPI released a few more pictures of the new body:

A release date still has yet to be announced.

HPI Lexus IS F Widebody 200mm Body

2009-06-04T15:21:00.010-04:00

Andy H. from HPI recently released these pictures of their latest offering, the Lexus IS F Widebody:

This is one of the first bodies I've seen in a while that I'm really looking forward to working on. Unfortunately, a release date has yet to be announced.

Speed Way Pal A31 Cefiro: More Pictures

2009-06-03T10:35:00.007-04:00

Source: Speed Way Pal Blog

HPI T&E Vertex Toyota Artiso 200mm Body

2009-06-02T11:56:00.003-04:00

Just announced:

Source: HPI Racing

Speed Way Pal Nissan A31 Cefiro Body

2009-06-01T11:38:00.004-04:00

Scheduled to be released later this summer:

Source: Speed Way Pal Blog

Street Jam "Iron Chin" Nostalgic Wheels

2009-05-29T02:25:00.013-04:00

Boso fans, rejoice! Available for import on June 15th in 3mm, 6mm, and 10mm offsets, these wheels take standard sized drift tires and give them a high-profile look:

Source: Street Jam

Rainy Days...

2009-05-26T18:10:00.002-04:00

It has been like this for the past week:

ABC Hobby Toyota A70 Supra Body

2009-05-19T22:34:00.007-04:00

After releasing what felt like an onslaught of mini 1/10th scale bodies, ABC Hobby announced their latest standard 1/10th scale body (the exact dimensions have yet to be revealed), the Toyota A70 Supra:

It should be available for import within the next couple of months.

Source: ABC Hobby

Hot Bodies Cyclone Drift Kit

2009-05-16T13:13:00.017-04:00

Hot Bodies showed off their new drift chassis at this year's Shizuoka Hobby Show. Its design follows in the foosteps of the Alex Racing CE-R and StreetJam OTA-R. One noticeable difference, though, is the addition of a second rear belt pulley which allows the spur gear to be positioned lower on the chassis.

Full Option Version:

I'm looking forward to testing it out when it becomes available.

Source: HPI EXPRESS

TA05 Countersteer Practice

2009-05-11T21:14:00.001-04:00

TA05 Countersteer Setup

2009-05-10T19:52:00.015-04:00

Last year my friend Sunny introduced me to countersteer drifting, but it wasn't until recently that I decided to give it a real try. With a countersteer setup the chassis' rear wheels spin faster than the front wheels, which transforms its handling characteristics to those of a rear-wheel-drive car. This allows for more countersteer to be applied while drifting. To achieve this effect, a smaller diff pulley and larger center pulley is installed for the rear belt, and vice versa for the front belt. So far I've only changed the pulleys for the rear belt:

Tamiya 18T pulley (#53989):
XRAY belt tensioner (#303071):
Tamiya 32T pulley (#50877):

Drift Practice Vol. 2

2009-05-08T18:07:00.001-04:00

New Pulleys

2009-05-07T14:30:00.007-04:00

A month or two after installing the Square Drift Conversion on my TA05, I noticed the pulleys started turning yellow. It wasn't really a big deal at first, but the yellower they got, the more it annoyed me. I don't think anyone else even noticed them, but to me they stuck out like sore thumbs. After almost a year of this, I couldn't take it anymore. I ordered a set of black "Limited Edition" pulleys, and when I was done installing them, I wondered why I waited so long to replace them.

Old pulleys:
New pulleys installed:

Square Carbon Damper Stays

2009-05-06T11:09:00.007-04:00

Thanks to my friend Sunny I was able to get a set of Square carbon damper stays for my TA05. I had been holding out for these in particular because the rear body posts stay in the stock location:They'll be on my car as soon as I get some CA glue to seal the edges.

Driveway Drifting Vol. 4

2009-04-15T01:11:00.003-04:00

Arpil 4th Drift Session

2009-04-05T01:09:00.009-04:00

Here are some pictures from yesterday's drift session at Warrick's Hobby Superstore. Despite being one of the hottest days of the year, there was nonstop drifting all day long:View from the Drivers Stand:

Spool Maintenance

2009-03-21T16:58:00.007-04:00

I've never been a fan of the steel outdrives that Tamiya includes with their spool for the TA05, so I replaced them with delrin outdrives (Tamiya Item #9804268) and aluminum sleeves (Tamiya Item #9804267) that are standard on the spool for the TRF415.

Before:
After:

Speed Way Pal - Wangan Wing

2009-03-11T21:18:00.025-04:00

Shipping on the 17th of this month is Speed Way Pal's new Wangan Wing. They will be available in either transparent or carbon-print polycarbonate for around $10:

WANGAN WING　　PA090:
WANGAN WING CARBON PRINT　　PA090-CP:

Click here for the official press release.

HPI Nissan GT-R R35

2009-03-09T02:19:00.011-04:00

HPI will be releasing its new R35 GT-R NISMO body later this month. While it still looks good, it doesn't appear to have as much detail as Tamiya's R35 (and you can expect it to be $10 to $15 cheaper than Tamiya's):

Tandem Action

2009-03-06T17:35:00.003-05:00

This is some footage from last summer that a friend of mine recently uploaded.

Copper Levin (Brushless 6.5t) - Jader
White 180SX (Brushless 8.5t) - Terrence
Primered Levin (Brushed 23t) - Myself

Tamiya Builders Showcase #41

2009-02-24T16:51:00.005-05:00

I submitted my 320si body to this month's Tamiya Builders Showcase over the weekend, and it was added to their website earlier today:Click here to check out the rest of this month's submissions.

My Cat

2009-02-22T08:50:00.006-05:00

Sometimes she keeps me company while I'm working on my cars. She has a little bit of a weight problem:

Tamiya BMW 320si - Photo Shoot

2009-02-15T13:34:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I took the car out for an "official" photo shoot. Here are the results:

Tamiya at Nuremberg 2009

2009-02-14T12:03:00.009-05:00

Tamiya uploaded some pictures of their booth at the 2009 Nuremberg Toy Fair to their website:

1/10RC ORC Amemiya SGC-7:1/10RC Toyota Aristo:1/10RC Nissan Skyline GT-R R32:1/10RC TB-03D Chassis:1/10RC Subaru Impreza WRC 2008:
You can check out the rest of the pictures here.

Progress: Part 4

2009-02-09T20:12:00.003-05:00

I decided to stick with the stock side mirrors and installed them this afternoon. I also cut the front body posts and smoothed them out with a dremel:

Progress: Part 3

2009-02-07T18:17:00.002-05:00

I took care of the exhaust late last night:

Progress: Part 2

2009-02-06T18:01:00.003-05:00

Today I finished the rest of the body lines. Now I need to choose which side mirrors and exhaust to add:

Progress...

2009-02-03T15:34:00.003-05:00

It's still far from finished, but here's an update:

Driveway Driftland - Under Construction

2008-12-02T11:18:00.005-05:00

What a busy month November was... I started this project at the end of October and wanted to have it completed before I posted any pictures. Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to happen any time soon. I still have to finish cutting the astroturf and painting the barriers, along with a few other small things. It shouldn't take too long, but between finals and doing some remodeling around the house, spare time during the day is hard to come by.

Part of Layout 1:Parking Lot:Part of Layout 2:Painted Barriers:

HPI Toyota Levin - Completed

2008-10-29T01:46:00.007-04:00

Some of you might remember this body I started a while ago but never officially finished. I wanted to try something a little different, so I painted it inside and out to give it a primered look. It came out a little lighter than I anticipated, but I was still happy with the results.

To finish the job I recently added a custom painted muffler from ABC Hobby (with custom exhaust piping), Tamiya side mirrors, and a set of SpeedWorks RS wheels:

Driveway Drifting Vol. 3

2008-10-22T18:17:00.000-04:00

Tamiya BMW 320si W.I.P.

2008-10-17T12:10:00.005-04:00

This is the body that I did the wheels for. I'll most likely paint it white, but I'm still considering a couple of other colors:

From Black to Gold - HPI WORK XSA 02C

2008-10-16T16:42:00.006-04:00

I'm working on a new body and thought some gold wheels would go great with it. These wheels are already available in gold from HPI, but I decided to save a little money and paint the black set I already had.

Before:
During:
After:

IFMAR Worlds on Speed TV

2008-10-14T22:01:00.003-04:00

I originally saw this video at RCeasy:

South Florida RC Drift Challenge Round 4

2008-10-01T17:17:00.002-04:00

Here's a few pictures of the event. I hope to have the rest posted by next week.

TRF Dampers and Futaba 2.4GHz Installed

2008-09-26T13:40:00.001-04:00

TB-03D and DF-03Ra

2008-09-24T19:33:00.006-04:00

How exciting!

My New Setup

2008-09-07T22:06:00.008-04:00

I spent some time this past week tuning my Square TA05, and I'm happy to say it has replaced my TN Racing TA05 as my full-time drift chassis.

Drift Tire Roundup

2008-08-27T00:34:00.024-04:00

During the early days of drifting, ABS tires or Yokomo Drift Rings were pretty much your only options. Things have changed a lot since then, and with the recent U.S. release of HPI's T-Drift Radials (available in 5 different treads) there are now plenty of tires to choose from. Here's a look at three popular choices.

Tamiya Super Driftechs

Installation: 1 2 3 4 5
The tires slide right on, and stay on. No glue or hairdryers required.

Grip Level: Very Low - Low - Moderate - High - Very High
These tires have the most consistent handling of the three, which makes them great for beginners. They work well on all surfaces.

Longevity: 1 2 3 4 5
Because they're a solid tire, you can wear them down as thin as you like. I opted to change mine once they got about half way through the logos on the sidewalls.

After about 25-30 runs:

Overall: Great all-around tires that unfortunately only fit correctly on 24mm wheels.

HPI T-Drifts

Installation: 1 2 3 4 5
After heating them up with a hairdryer they mount fairly easily. No glue required.

Grip Level: Very Low - Low - Moderate - High - Very High
These tires have the least amount of grip of the three, but still have a good amount of control. As the tires heat up, though, they gain a significant amount of grip which can lead to inconsistent handling run to run.

Longevity: 1 2 3 4 5
It makes sense that the tires with the least amount of grip would last the longest, but these tires last much longer than you might expect. I've had the same set for over six months now.

After 6 months these tires are still going strong:

Overall: Perfect for the drifter on a budget, these tires will easily outlast any others currently available.

HPI T-Drift Radials - Toyo Proxes R1R

Installation: 1 2 3 4 5
Even after heating them up, these tires are a pain to mount. No glue required.

Grip Level: Very Low - Low - Moderate - High - Very High
These tires have the most grip out the three, but it doesn't last very long. They have a ton of control but still slide with ease. As the tires wear, they begin to feel more and more like standard T-Drifts. When new, they have a tendency to get caught up on rough surfaces.

Longevity: 1 2 3 4 5
These tires last pretty long, but unfortunately their tread only lasts a handful of sessions.

After 6-8 runs, the tread had pretty much disappeared:

Overall: Even with the drawbacks, these tires are my favorite of the bunch.

One of My Other Hobbies

2008-08-26T02:35:00.001-04:00

8/9/08 - Mini Session

2008-08-09T23:55:00.010-04:00

Terrence, Jader, and I had a short practice session today. Terrence debuted his new RPS13, and Jader drove his AE86.

HPI Levin - 95% Complete

2008-07-29T16:17:00.015-04:00

I painted the body inside and out using Tamiya Corsa Gray in an attempt to give it a primered look. It came out a little lighter than I expected, but I think it still looks okay. All it needs now are a few more decals and an exhaust, and it should be done.

Team Over!Sliders - Video 2

2008-07-21T01:34:00.000-04:00

Featuring:
SDF = S13 Vulcan
DAVEMATIC = Vertex Ridge Soarer
hero = 350Z LM // RX8
Tiger.T = Legacy Wagon

with Special Guest:
E BOX = Mustang GT

Filmed by Tiger.T, E BOX, and SDF. Edited by Tiger.T:

How to Adjust a Ball Diff in a TA05

2008-07-20T11:29:00.015-04:00

There are a few different ways to gain access to a ball diff's adjusting screw. This is the easiest and fastest way that I've found:

Remove the front-right wheel:
Remove the hinge pin that holds the hub carrier in place:
Move the hub carrier out of the way, and remove the red urethane bushing to gain access to the screw:
When you've made your adjustments just follow the steps in reverse order (Don't forget about the bushing!), and you're done:

Testing a New Location

2008-07-17T19:35:00.003-04:00

For Sale - Brand New Square TA05 Drift Conversion - SOLD

2008-07-16T16:34:00.007-04:00

I have a brand new, sealed Square TA05 Drift Conversion for sale. It includes all the necessary parts to complete the conversion:

2.5mm carbon chassis
2mm carbon upper deck
aluminum motor mount and supports
new belts
rear belt tensioner
battery holder

I'm asking for $230, shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. If you have any questions about international shipping or the conversion, feel free to send me an e-mail.

350Z Reborn

2008-07-11T22:27:00.005-04:00

Tonight I mounted my old Tamiya 350Z body onto my Square TA05. The reason I still haven't done a new body for it is because I'm still deciding whether or not to buy a rear carbon damper stay (which would have wider body post positions). After replacing the front lip with one built from styrene, I think it still looks pretty decent.

Short Square TA05 Video

2008-07-10T02:23:00.002-04:00

Super-Sized Pinion Gear

2008-07-08T23:27:00.014-04:00

I finally received my new pinion gear today, so my Square TA05 is officially ready for a full drift session. The new setup is a 105/40 combo resulting in a gear ratio of 5.91.

Adventures in RC Drifting

Square Drift Conversion SP - Type SS

All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show 2010 - Notable Tamiya Releases

RC Drifting in North Carolina

Tech Racing Spool for TB-03

Tamiya TA05-VDF

Tamiya FF-03 PRO

Here Comes a New Challenger!

Tamiya at Shizuoka Hobby Show 2010

New Tamiya Drift Chassis!!

Two New Bodies from Yokomo

Upcoming Releases from Tamiya

Active Countersteer Unit for TT-01

Yokomo M7 RE Amemiya w/ Toyo Tires D1-7

New Products from Yokomo

ABC Hobby Lexus LS460 190mm Body

Yokomo WONDER C35 LAUREL Club-S

Coming Soon from Tamiya

Tech Racing 1/10 Drift Chassis

Yokomo D-MAX in Action

Active Hobby TT-01 Countersteer Kit

Yokomo D-MAX Diversion ADVAN ONE-VIA

ENKEI Racing GTC 01 Wheels from Yokomo

Yokomo 12 LED Assembled Light Buckets

Rays Volk Racing GTF Wheels from Yokomo

Don't Call It a Comeback

All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show 2009 - Pictures

Plamodel Hobby Show - New Tamiya Images

TA05 Countersteer Practice Vol. 3

Active Countersteer Kit *Ver. 2* for TA05

Square TA05 Drift Conversion SP - Update #2

Square TA05 Drift Conversion SP - Update

Hot Bodies TC-D

Square TA05 Drift Conversion SP

Square Countersteer Kit for Tamiya TA05

Yokomo Drift Package - GOODYEAR Racing ZERO CROWN

TA05 Countersteer Practice Vol. 2

Drift Gettogether

Street Jam Shadow Wheels

Active TA05 Countersteer Kit Version 1.5 & 2

Tamiya TEU-104BK

New Products from Yokomo

Speed Way Pal Slidemaster FM Wheels - Plated

Street Jam Star Shark Wheels

Hot Bodies DCJ Drive Shaft Set #67699

TA05 Parallel Parking

Tamiya TA05 Ver. II

Speed Way Pal A31 Cefiro: Official Pictures

Speed Way Pal A31 Cefiro: Another Picture

Ai Circuit in Kasai, Japan

Yokomo Drift Package - BLITZ Dunlop Skyline

Two New Drift Packages from Yokomo

HPI Lexus IS F: More Pictures

HPI Lexus IS F Widebody 200mm Body

Speed Way Pal A31 Cefiro: More Pictures

HPI T&E Vertex Toyota Artiso 200mm Body

Speed Way Pal Nissan A31 Cefiro Body

Street Jam "Iron Chin" Nostalgic Wheels

Rainy Days...

ABC Hobby Toyota A70 Supra Body

Hot Bodies Cyclone Drift Kit

TA05 Countersteer Practice

TA05 Countersteer Setup

Drift Practice Vol. 2

New Pulleys

Square Carbon Damper Stays

Driveway Drifting Vol. 4

Arpil 4th Drift Session

Spool Maintenance

Speed Way Pal - Wangan Wing

HPI Nissan GT-R R35

Tandem Action

Tamiya Builders Showcase #41

My Cat

Tamiya BMW 320si - Photo Shoot

Tamiya at Nuremberg 2009

Progress: Part 4

Progress: Part 3

Progress: Part 2

Progress...

Active Countersteer Kit Ver. 2 for TA05

For Sale - Brand New Square TA05 Drift Conversion - SOLD